Natural Skin Care Ingredients

Twice a year, I hold week-long SkyLab boot camps with Jackie Warner, star of Bravo TV’s Workout. The most recent boot camp we held was in early June this year.

At the boot camp, Jackie was raving about a new sweetener called Truvia. Because I have seen the ads on TV and in magazines, I was immediately suspicious. Usually, when a “natural” sweetener takes up this type of ad space, it is not very natural. Think Splenda.

As it turns out, my concerns were unnecessary. Truvia is made from rebiana, erythritol, and natural flavors. While I’d like to know a bit more about these “natural flavors,” the other ingredients are fine.

Rebiana comes from the stevia plant, and as you know from my June 26, 2009 posting, I am a huge fan of stevia. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that is nearly calorie-free. Like other sugar alcohols, erythritol doesn’t spike glucose or insulin levels; however, unlike most sugar alcohols, it doesn’t cause the “laxative” response that come people get with xylitol or maltitol.

All of this makes Truvia a great, sweet option for women suffering from menopause symptoms such as night sweats or hot flashes, as Truvia won’t alter hormone levels. More specifically, it won’t increase estrogen levels, which is a huge plus for women with estrogen dominance.

And, if weight loss is a priority for you this summer, Truvia may be your new best friend. Make it a part of your natural weight loss plan by adding it to oatmeal, green tea, or anything that you want to make just a little bit sweeter.

Hmmm…maybe I can add it to my husband!